Can-top lock



NOV. 4, 1930. C. ANDERSQN 1,780,575

' l CAN TOP LOCK Filed July l, 1929 awww/hoz yzjforrd dnderaon Patented Nov.V 4, 1930 TATES PATENT; OFFICE CLIFFORD n. ANDERSON, or` BRAINERD, MINNESOTA ".Appiicatitn filed :any 1, 1929.l seriaiNo. a75`,`36,'.

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet an eflicient and very desirable device for locking the covers of creamand milk'cans against accidental removal, for instance it'thecans should be tipped over. s

' Another Objectis to provide al device of the class described'which is normally 'conlined almost entirely-within the space sur- ,io rounded by ktheusualiia'red side wall of the cover. Y j a A still further object is tor provide a device 'of the class mentioned in whichk a` single resilientringserves'y not only as means Jfor l"911': holdingthe lockingbolts projected through the usual openings of the can cover and neck, but also engages the handle of the cover and thereby holds the entire contrivance kagainst accidental loss, even when the cover is detached fromv the canor the bolts are disengaged from the openings. Y

Yet another aim is yto provide aconstruction in which sliding of the boltsV do-wn the usual flared portion of the cover sidek wall is 1- instrumental in tensioning spring Lmeans which acts tofp'roject said boltsthrough the,k

openings whenthey reach the latter. j

lA still further aim is to provide the Abolts with teeth whichbecome effective upon slight upward movement of the cover within the neck, to positively hold said bolts against withdrawal until the cover -is again forced downwardly. Y y

A still'further aimk is to provide the bolts throughl which they are lto pass'thereby per- Amitting'the passage of the conventional seal wire through these openings also, if desired# With the foregoing' and minorobjects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafterpdescribed and claimed, description being accomplished by'reference to theaccompanyingy drawing. wFig.y lis a topjplan; view ofga can'` and it cover, showing-the locking devicein: operative relation therewith.

Fig. 2 is a ,verticaly sectional 2 2 of Fig. 1. s

Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofthe cover and View on line of much smaller'diameter than the openings the locking device showing the bolts in released position. -f Y is a'perspective View showing a different manner of constructing the bolts'and a diilerentway lof connectingthem withthe spring ring.

said flared portion' 10being` formed with diametrically opposed openings 11 toV register with the openings 7 yThe-usual handle 12 is dis osed diametric'ally'and is secured` at its en s to the flared portion 11 of the wall 9, the lower sideof said handlebeing usually below f the lower edges of the openings 11.'

Cans-and covers of the type 'shown' and described, are furnished in various sizesbut the'design in each instance is substantially the same. The improved coverflockingde- 'vice may be correspondingly furnished 'in kdifferent sizes, theconstructions of the several: sizes however being substantiallyv lthe same".` Y W In `thejform ofconstruction seen inFig's. 1 to 3, twojlocking bolts 13 are provided, Vsaid bolts being 'of cylindrical Jform andof much less diameterthan the openings 7'--11, so that while theseopenings are occupied with the bolts as seenin Figs. land 2,'the-conventionalseal wire (not shown) may also be passed through said openings. kA suitable springwire ring 14 is secured to the inner ends of the bolts 18, said ringfbeing'fa diameter substantially equivalent to the smaller diameter of the cover side wall 9 and being adapted to be passed under the handle 12- and to thenjassume a downwardly bowed position, in which it remains under suchtension .that itsbolt-carrying portions havea tendency to move downwardly. Thus, when the bolts 13 are withdrawn and lie upon the flared wall portion as seen in Fig. 3, the resiliency of the ring 14 will insure that the entire device shall remain in place. Normally, when the cover is not in use, the bolts 13 remain about as shown in Fig. 3, being then above the openings 11. Whenthe cover is applied however, and the bolts 13 are grasped byV hand and forced downwardly upon the flared wall portion 10, this wall portion crowds the bolts inwardly, thereby placing the ring 14 under radial tension. This tension acts, as soon as the bolts arrive at the registering openings 7-11, to outwardly project the bolts vthrough said openings to the positions shown in Fig. 1, in which positions they will effectively hold the can cover 8 against accidental removal even though the can 4 should be turned over. Y

While the bolts 13 are only loosely received in the openings 7-'11, they are provided with teeth which become effective upon slight upward shifting of the cover 8, to positively prevent withdrawal of the bolts. These teeth then engage the walls of the openings in the present disclosure, but they might be so positioned as to engage the walls of the openings 11 or the walls of all of the openings 7-11. Byproviding these teeth, if anyone attempts to lift the can 4 by means of rthe handle 12, upward 'shifting of the .cover 8 takes place, thereby somewhatcanting the bolts 13 and causing their teeth 15 to become immediately effective to prevent possible inward sliding of the bolts. This same action willV take vplace if the can is tipped over and the milk or cream within exerts strong outward pressure upon the cover 8. Y

In the `construction so far described, cast metal heads 16 on the inner ends of the bolts 13, are employed to anchor said bolts to the ring 14, said heads being .cast aboutportions of bolts and ring.V These heads are preferably of about the same diameter as the openings 7-11, and if so desired, the bolts 13 may be canted from the positions shown in Fig. 1 and forced further outward, so that their heads 16 will be snugly received in the openings 7-11. f

In Fig. 4, the toothed bolt 13a is formed from sheet metal bent into tubular form'and provided at its inner end with two lateral oppositely projecting lugs 16a. These lugs and the adjacent portions of the tubular bolts 13a are formed with openings 16h. The spring ring is formed of two sections 14a having eves 14b on their ends engaged with the openings 16". L

By providing the novel constructionshown and described or the equivalent thereof, adevice is provided which isV simple and inexpensive, may be easily applied to or removed from the can cover, may be quickly and easily disposed at either locked or released position Vmetal ring for reception within the cover,

andtwo bolts connected with and projecting outwardly from diametrically opposed portions of said ring for passage through openings in the cover and the can neck.

2. A can cover lock comprising a spring metal ring for reception Vin the cover, and two elongated bolts having enlarged cylindrical heads for passage through openings in the cover and the can neck, said bolts project ing radially from diametrically opposed portions of said ring and having their heads connected with the latter.

3. In combinati-on with a can cover having a continuous side wall flared at its upper portion, a diametrically extending handle secured to said wall, and diametrically opposed openings through said flared wall portion at opposite sides of said handle, two bolts for passage. outwardly through said openings, and resilient means passing under and held in downwardly bowed condition by said handle, said means carrying said bolts in substantially radial positions with their outer end above said openings and resting on said flared wall portion, whereby downward forcing of the bolts will effect inward shifting thereof to radially tension said resilient means and cause the latter to outwardly force said bolts when they reach said openings.

4. VIn combination with a can cover having a continuous side wall `flared at its upper portion, and a diametrically extending handle secured to said wall, the latter having openings at opposite sides of said handle; a resilient ring within the confines of said wall and passing under said handle, and radially projecting'bolts secured to saidrring for passage outwardly through said openings.

5. In combination with a can neck and a cover receivable in said neck, the two having alined openings; a bolt of considerably less diameter than said openings and adapted for passage therethrough, and spring means exerting a force tending to hold the bolt in the openings, said bolt having teeth to engage the wall of at least oneof said openings upon slight upward movement of the cover to then positively holdvsaid bolt against withdrawal.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CLIFFORD E. ANDERSON. 

